Every tool box includes at least one, but when it comes to home-improvement projects, the ubiquitous hammer is not a one-too-fits-all

Hammer on a table.

Photograph by: sarapulsar38
, Fotolia

There may be nothing dumber than a bag of them, but a hammer is de rigueur in any home. Here are the five most popular among DIYers. They’re available at most hardware and building materials stores.

Steel, fibreglass or wooden handle? For routine household tasks, it doesn’t make much difference, although steel is heavier than the other two, and wooden handles don’t have a cushioning rubber hand grip.

Unless you plan a major renovation, don’t bother with the extra expense of an anti-vibration handle which is said to reduce potential joint damage from the shock of repeatedly striking nails.

Hammer facts

Some hammers have a magnetic nail holder in the head. It holds the nail for the first blow so you avoid bruised fingers.

When using any hammer, grip it at the end of the handle, not at the mid-point, for maximum leverage and efficiency.

Use your entire arm and elbow, not just your wrist, to pound a nail. Keep your wrist straight, and hit the nail squarely, not sideways.

Remember: safety first. That means safety glasses to protect your eyes from accidentally shattered material, and ensuring you have good balance and firm footing when swinging. A well-lit area helps you hit the nail, not your fingers.

Match the tool to the job: a 16-ounce claw hammer is for striking nails; if you want to drive fence posts, get a sledgehammer.

Advice from the Pros

About face: “When selecting a hammer, consider the face,” says Bob Vila, host of renovation shows, including This Old House. “A patterned face (also called a mill face) will help prevent glancing blows because the serrations grip the head of the nail ... handy (for) forceful hammering, like framing and toe-nailing. A smooth, slightly convex (belled) face is preferable for finish work.”

Steady as she goes: “Hold nails close to the head to steady them and reduce the chances of missing. If you’re using the hammer on a chisel, punch, wedge or other tool, make sure the face of the hammer has a diameter approximately 3/8” larger than the tool you’re striking,” according to Home Depot’s Buying Guide for Hammers & Striking Tools

Safety first: Look behind and above you before swinging a hammer and keep an eye on the object you’re hitting, warns the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, which cautions against using one hammer to strike another hammer, other hard metal objects, stones or concrete.

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